Combating the Impact of Cholera and Drought on Children through Nutrition Support Groups
Zambia Drought Response
As the scorching sun beats down on the dry landscape of Lusaka’s Kanyama township in what should be the final days of the rainy season, a crisis unfolds beneath the surface. The devastating drought, declared a state of emergency by the Government of the Republic of Zambia in February, has ravaged over 1 million hectares of maize fields, disrupted power generation, and depleted water reservoirs across the country.
The impact of this drought extends far beyond agriculture, affecting every facet of life and making the plight of vulnerable households increasingly dire. Over 8 million people are exposed to severe and intense drought and 6 million people are at risk of food insecurity, who are to be targeted in the response according to the El Niño Impact assessment, with about 40,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity.
It is against this backdrop that Nutrition Support Groups are conducting door to door community outreach in the fight against drought-induced undernutrition, actively identifying cases of wasting among vulnerable households. Their target group are children under 5 years of age. Through this activity, they play an important role underscoring the link between drought and nutrition, shedding light on how food insecurity exacerbates the plight of children.
“This is day two of our community outreach and so far, we have made over 14 referrals of children identified with acute malnutrition to Kanyama level 1 hospital. This is how important this activity is as it’s helping us in early identification of wasting which can save lives,” says Mary, a volunteer.
As access to safe, clean water dwindles, food insecurity and malnutrition loom large over vulnerable communities like Kanyama, exacerbating an already hazardous situation, as it was one of the hardest hit hotspots at the height of the cholera outbreak in Lusaka District.
“We are using Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape to identify those children who are wasting. Those who are in the yellow and red zones require urgent attention and these are the ones we are referring to the hospital for further assessment and required treatment. We are escorting some of the mothers all to the hospital to make sure their children get the necessary help as some of the mothers are very busy trying to make ends meet,” says Annety, also a volunteer.
MUAC tape is a simple, yet effective tool used in the identification of children who are suffering from wasting, a form of acute malnutrition characterized by rapid weight loss and muscle wasting. The MUAC tape is a flexible, color-coded strip of plastic or paper that is wrapped around the mid upper arm of a child.
Overall, the MUAC tape, which is provided by UNICEF through the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN II) programme, plays a crucial role in identifying children at risk of wasting and facilitating timely intervention to address their nutritional needs. By enabling early detection and prompt treatment, MUAC measurement helps save lives and prevent long-term health consequences associated with malnutrition.
Nutrition Support Group volunteers in sub districts of Matero and Kanyama have through this critical activity screened over 20,000 children and referred over 200 children who needed urgent medical attention were referred to the nearest health facilities where they received treatment and Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods
The impact of drought on children is particularly severe. The drought-induced crop failures and rising food prices worsen child malnutrition, jeopardizing the health and development of Zambia's young population. With limited nutrition treatment services available due to a shortage of supplies and inadequate active case finding, urgent action is needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, the broader climate crisis exacerbates the challenges faced by children in Zambia. Killer childhood diseases, like cholera, spread more readily due to environmental degradation and climate change.
As the climate crisis continues to unfold, the stakes for Zambia's children are high as they potentially face a lifetime of lost opportunities and physiological harm from the enduring effects of drought and environmental degradation. Urgent action is needed to safeguard their health, well-being, and future prosperity.
In urgent response to this situation, the strategy of Scaling up Nutrition programme includes procuring essential supplies at scale such as Ready to use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and MUAC tapes. Capacity has also been built in the Nutrition Support Groups to bolster nutrition and health services through active case finding as conditions deteriorate.
SUN II remains committed to supporting Zambia's most vulnerable children and communities, ensuring they receive the assistance they need to weather the storm and build a brighter, more resilient future.
SUN II is a four-year initiative led by the United Nations in 17 districts in support of the Government of Zambia’s First 1,000 Most Critical Days Programme Phase II. It is supported by the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW Development Bank, the Republic of Ireland, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and UK aid from the British people.
